Drought Tolerance

Driving along the interstate through Central Illinois I noticed just about everything stressed out from the drought but one tree stood out,

The lowly often overlooked tree and yes it is a native the Catalpa speciosa.

 

Where oaks and maples and most every shrub planted along the interstate were significantly stressed here was a tree thriving in the heat and windy conditions.

I always thought the catalpa as a rank excuse for a shade tree but after seeing how durable of a  tree  it is in this drought I have a renewed appreciation..